Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-06-22
A BUSY LIFE ENDED.
Death of Ex-Governor Potts in Hell
ena-a Large Funeral-His
Public Career:

| Der OF people attended the funeral OF the
late Ex-Governor Potts, which took place
this afternoon. In the procession which
many leading citizens as well as nearly all
the members of the Grand Army of the
Republic in this city. His death. which
| took place on Friday night, has produced
general regret and much sympathy is ex-
pressed for his widow and relatives. He
died from aneurism of a main artery of
the chest, which had affected him since
| last autumn.
| Ex-Governor Benjamin F. Potts had a
long and interesting career. He was born
in Carroll county, Ohio, January 20, 1886,
| his parents being farmers. He received
good English education in the public
schools of his county, and when II years
old entered the dry goods store of Charles
Boies, at Wattsville, Ohio, as clerk. In
| about year he left the store and entered
Westminster college at New Wilmington,
Pennsylvania. He remained at college
| during 1s54-5, but his funds becoming ex-
hausted he returned to Ohio and engaged
in teaching school and reading law. Al
though only 20 years of age he took an ac-
tive part in the political contest of 1866,
and addressed numerous meetings in favor
of Mr.. Buchanan and the Democratic party.
In September, 1857, he entered the law Of
fee of COL E. R. Fckley, Carrolton, Ohio,
where he remained, devoting the whole
time to the study of law, until May, 1859,
when he was admitted to the bar by full
bench of the district court at Canton, Ohio.
He Immediately opened a law Office in his
native county, and by energy and appli-
cation soon obtained good practice. He
married, May 20, 1861, Angeline Jackson,
native of Carroll county, Ohio.
In 1859 he was elected delegate to the
Charleston convention. He was presant
at Charleston and Baltimore and voted
first and last for Stephen A. Douglas.
Upon the fall of Sumter, as a Douglas
Democrat, he followed the example of his
political leader. declared for his country,
advocated vigorous war measures, raised
company and entered the 23d Ohio. He
was mustered in as captain, August 80, 1861.
He served with the regiment in West Vir-
ginia, and was present at Cheat Mountain
and Greenbrier He accompanied General
Fremont in his campaign up the Shenan-
doah valley in pursuit of Stonewall Jack
son, and was present at Cross Keys and
Port Republic. In July, 1862, Captain
Potts was detached with his company and
was placed in charge of battery of light
artillery. He was stationed at Winchester
until the evacuation of that place in Sep
tember, 1862, when he fell back with the
army to Harper's Ferry.
His subsequent military career makes
an honorable record. On the Goth of Feb
ruary. 1863, Col. Potts moved with his regi-
ment for the Vicksburg campaign. At
Port Gibson he was complimented for
gallantry by General j. d. Stevenson, the
brigade commander, and at Raymond,
Jackson and Champion Hills he received
the thanks of General Logan. AT the lat
ter place Col. Potts charged with his regi-
ment and captured an eight-gun rebel
battery and about ene-half of an Alabama
brigade that was guarding it. He was at
the front during the entire seige of Vicks-
barg, and was in command of the skir-
mish line the day that Generals Grant and
Pemberton negotiated the surrender.
On the 10th of July, 1864, Col. Potts was
assigned to the command of the First bri-
gade, fourth division Seventh, army corps.
He participated in the battles near Atlanta
on the Goth, 21st, 22d and 2Sth of July,
and was complimented highly by Generals
Blair and Smith in their official reports,
and General Giles A. Smith, commanding
the fourth division, said in private letter:
ssCol. Potts did more on the 22d of July,
1864, to save the good name of the army
of the Tennessee than any other one man.
The official report of the campaign that
closed with the capture of Atlanta showed
that Col. Potts had been in the thickest of
the fight, and, within ninety days, his men
had been reduced in numbers more than
one-half. He accompanied Sherman's s army
through the Carolinas. was present at the
capture of Orangeburg and Columbia, and
with his brigade was the first to enter
Fayetteville. He participated in the battle
of Bentonviile, and again was present at
the capture of Raleigh. After the surren
der of the confederate forces he moved
with the army to Washington, and led his
COIIluldtlu III tlG Sefl0Tdl IefleW.
After the war he resumed the practice
of his profession at home, and was elected
to the Ohio state senate from Carroll coun-
ty in 1867, reelected in 1859, served three
sessions, was chairman of the judiciary
committee, and resigned upon receiving
from President Grant the appointment Of
governor of Montana territory. He arri-
we'd at Virginia City in August, 1870, was
reappointed by President Grant in 1874,
and again by President Hayes In 1878,
serving until January 10Th, 1883, period
of twelve and e-half years. As COVER
nor he introduced economy in the public |
service and succeeded in restoring the |
credit of the territory which was In debt
when he came here. He also brought /
about reform in county affairs. During
the Indian disturbances he did much to |
inspire courage and confidence in the peo-
pie. In 1884 he was elected member of |
the house of representatives of the Mon
tana Legislature, serving with honor |
through the term.
In stature, General Potts was full six |
feet and one inch in height He possessed |
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